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THE International Finals Youth Rodeo Recognized at 2018 Central Oklahoma Frontier Country Awards​

(SHAWNEE, Okla.) - The International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) received accolades at the 2018 Central Oklahoma Frontier Country Awards June 21 at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee. The IFYR was recognized for excellence in promoting tourism in Central Oklahoma, as the recipient of the “Outstanding Website” and “Outstanding Children’s Event or Festival” awards. IFYR is a week-long event running July 8-13, 2018 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, 1700 W. Independence, in Shawnee.

The IFYR was one of several organizations and businesses recognized at the 2018 annual meeting and awards luncheon. The recipients were acknowledged for outstanding tourist attractions, exhibitions, events, communities and tourism-related businesses in Central Oklahoma.

“It means the world that the IFYR was recognized by our peers and tourism community,” said Chris Dunlap, assistant director of the International Finals Youth Rodeo and Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. “This event is special to me, our community and so many people nationwide. The recognition is certainly not why we do it, but it is a great reminder of how blessed we are to do our jobs.”

The IFYR was previously recognized during the 2017 awards as “Outstanding Sporting Event.”

The International Finals Youth Rodeo, held annually since 1993, is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that presents top high school athletes with a professional rodeo. The internationally-recognized IFYR is held annually at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The action-packed event includes hundreds of contestants vying to win more than $250,000 in prize money, competing in 10 events running simultaneously in three arenas over six days. In 2017, more than 875 contestants and their families traveled from 34 states plus Australia to participate in the IFYR. For more information, visit IFYR.com or call (800) 762-7695.